Jessica4LUXE

Hi brides to be!!

Here are a couple of our favourite ideas for brides and grooms to give eachother (but can totally be used for your wedding parties as well)

Gifts from Bride to Groom

Traditional: a watch or set of cufflinks are as traditional as it comes. Add in a little personal touch by customizing the cufflinks to match his wedding band, favourite sports team or initials and wedding date. White Truffle, a shop found on Etsy, has some amazing cufflinks that you can customize for your special man.

Practical: Last Name Change. If you have decided to take your soon to be hubby’s last name, why not turn this into his gift? Send him a special note or picture of yourself holding up a sign that says “Future Mrs…â€

Unique: “His day†on your honeymoon! Surprise your guy with a special event/day trip while on your honeymoon that he’d be super into. Since the focal point of the wedding day is really on the bride, it is nice to be able to take a day and celebrate him with his own personal day right after the wedding. Whether it’s a special snorkeling trip, tickets to a game, dinner at the best bbq place around, do what you think he would love! He will love you for it J

Gifts from Groom to Bride

Traditional: Jewelry…what girl doesn’t love jewelry as a gift? A set of diamond earrings to match her engagement ring is a classic choice. For a more personal touch, think about a charm bracelet with a charm that has some significance to your first date, engagement or other meaningful event the two of you have shared.

Practical: Massage appointment – book your wife to be a personal massage at the location she will be at the morning of her wedding. Have the masseuse show up and surprise her. She will be so relaxed and ready to walk down that aisle to you!

Unique: A right hand ring- find an antique ring (whether from a store, or something that has been in either of your families that you have touched up to fit her style) with a blue stone. This way, the your bride will have something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue all in one gift.

These are just a few of our favourite ideas. We would love to hear your suggestions below as what you think would make a great wedding gift, or what you have given!

Happy Planning!

Originally Posted by Jessica Correa 

 

 

Many of my guests are very technologically oriented so I guess I will be doing the mailing cards. How far ahead should I do the RSVP date for? My wedding is June 28th, 2014... I was thinking the beginning of March because it would be almost 4 months before the wedding... Is that too late or too early?

Hi Jessica,

4 months is a good time frame as it gives you a good buffer between when all your final details will be due at the hotel and still allows for guests to make their decision into next year. Remember though, you might still have people RSVP after this date that you will have to take into account. I would recommend sending a Save the Date, or reminder to your guests sooner rather than later so they can start to plan, and then send the formal invitation + RSVP card late fall.

Happy Planning!

Originally Posted by stingerash 

 

Hey Guys,

 

I just wanted to get some of your thoughts on this.  I am sending out my invitations tomorrow and my RSVP date is August 1, 2013. (yes I know I am VERY late!!).  Wedding is in Nov.

Anyhow, along with the invitation is an RSVP card along with the stamped envelope.

On the travel information card, there is a url of our wedding website.

 

I have an RSVP section on the website but have not decided if I should use it or not. I really want people to RSVP through the mail. But in my head I figured that they could do both thinking that they have to go to the website to read the information about prices and what not and while they were there they could rsvp as well. I figured I would write something along the lines of  but in different wording "feel free to rsvp on the website" and something like "but please make sure to still send back the rsvp card that was included in the invitation." All of this would be worded differently of course.

 

Anyhow, to make a long story short haha. I started thinking about it more and now feel as if this may be strange. Should I just take the whole RSVP part out of the website? I would have them just use the website but my mom feels strongly about them using the card ! I was just hoping I would hear back a bit quicker and get some idea of how many people faster but since I am SOO late with the invitations, maybe I should just forget the rsvp on the website? Thoughs!

 

Thanks for reading. I hope that made sense!!

Have a great night!!!

Hi stingerash,

I think that giving people two tasks to RSVP is too much - some might forget one and complicate/confuse you. If you are looking for a quick RSVP (which it looks like you are) the website is the best way and most efficient for people as well. Even when placing the stamps on them for your guests already, they are sometimes lost or forgotten about.

Happy Planning!

That's a great deal!!! Just make sure that before you purchase you check with you WC to ensure that the hotel allows them. We have had many brides disappointed when they purchased them and then asked us and we had to inform them that unfortunately they were not allowed at the hotel.

Happy Planning!

Originally Posted by kard613 

 

Is it better to tip in US dollars or pesos?!

Hi Kard613,

USD holds a greater value in Mexico then their own peso. Having said that, it can sometimes be hard for them to use or exchange. It is always best we find to ask the front desk upon arrival what the staff would prefer, or better yet ask your WC before you depart!!

Happy Planning!

This is a great idea! We have been to so many weddings where all guests are focused on is getting what they think is the perfect shot, when in fact they are just ruining other peoples view, and ruining their own view in reality. To remind guests to sit back, enjoy and see the moment through their own eyes (not a camera lens) is very refreshing and something we are going to start doing!! Happily remind guests that you have hired a professional to take care of the photos and you will  happily give them copies! Thanks so much for sharing this article!!

Happy Planning!

Originally Posted by dpereira6 

 

Hi,

Getting married at the Melia Cabo Real in September and wanted to see if any of you have heard or had hair and make up,done by the staff at the resort. Thoughts? Recommendations for others??

Hi Dpereira6,

Unfortunatly I cannot comment on the hotel, but there are a few great makeup artists in the area (just make sure you confirm that you can have an offsite vendor with your WC first!!):

1. Suzanne Morel

http://suzannemorel.com/

2. Neysa Berman-Blanc

www.neysaberman.com

3. Pila Andrade

www.bodytreatspa.com

Happy Planning!

Originally Posted by DANIELLE03 

 

Hey ladies!

 

I am trying to think of an additional colour to go with turqoise blue! Anyone have any suggestions??

Hi Danielle03, and everyone else!!

Here is one of our most requested colour combo's incorporating turquoise.

Happy Planning!

Hi Lovebug8806,

It would be best to contact the hotel coordinator direct to ensure that this pricing is accurate and up to date, but for our last wedding it was pricing out at $500 for 20 people for 2 hours (including open bar, bartender and DJ). I believe that the cost go up based on your guest count

The disco opens to the rest of the resort everynight at 11:00pm, so we suggest to our clients to arrange their private dance starting at either 8:30 or 9:00pm to have a nice flow!

Happy Planning!

Hi Rani Dae,

We JUST came across this amazing service https://www.postable.com/ . A completly free service that collects your guests’ mailing addresses (and if you really want, super easy to write and mail all of your thank you cards). Check it out!!

We've also added further details about it on our blog: http://luxedestinationweddings.com/blog/

Happy Planning!

Hi lovebug8806,

The Disco Reception is a fantastic idea for your after dinner dance. It has a great vibe and really extends your night - we have lots of clients who choose this option and then continue the party on at the disco once it opens to the rest of the resort. Our brides and grooms have come back and told us how much fun they had, AND that the rest of the guests at the hotel once they arrived treated them so well.

Happy Planning!

Such great ideas!! A couple more ideas we have (and some from our clients) are envelope liners, use them as your table numbers (maybe take a different photo with each table number - advance planning!!), photos in a mason jar in water as your centerpiece and of course our favourite, use it as your guest book!

Love the creativity going on in this forum!

Happy Planning!

Hi Itsjuliez,

Any wedding coordinator can work with you on an approximate guest count to give you and idea on pricing. Once you have your final numbers, then you can inform them as to how many people will actually attend your wedding and adjust from there. In our experience, you can expect a 30-40% guest attendance (based on your number of invites) on average. This number can fluctuate based on how far in advance you give your guests notice!

Don't let a final guest count stop you from beginning the planning

Happy Planning!

Hi Sehausle,

Below is a photo we have from the Convention Center at the Dreams Tulum. It is quite large you will see. I believe that the hotel has a lovely pool side location you could host the reception to keep your Grandmother off the beach

Happy Planning!

Hi Safety75 and others!!

From our experiece, and brides feedback, we have come up with the following guidelines for tipping!

Makeup Artist and/or Hair Stylists: 15 to 25% of your total bill is standard – tip as you would your regular hair stylist!

Officiant: If the officiant is affiliated with a religious establishment, then you should plan on making a donation to that institution for at least $100. When hiring a non-denominational minister, no tip is required, however you might choose to tip $50 if the minister was above and beyond. Since you do not want to be handling money during the ceremony, if you plan on tipping the officiant, hand it to them at the Rehearsal or give it to the Best Man to handle.

Ceremony & Reception Musicians: Musicians & DJ tipping is really based on the quality of the performance and not always required. Standard tips depend on the type of musician:
Singer & DJ’s: $20-$80

Each member of a Band: $5-10 per hour

Solo Instrumentalist: $30-50

Photographer/Videographer: Tipping your photographer or videographer is entirely dependent on whether they own their own company or not. If they own their own company, he/she will be keeping most of the fee and the tip is completely optional. If he/she is the employee of a company, depending on the amount of time spent, plan on leaving a tip for $50-100.

Bartenders & Catering Staff: Majority of the time, service fees, gratuities or tips are included in your contract. Make sure you check this prior to allotting more money. If there is not mention in your contract, consider leaving $20-25 per bartender or 10% of the total liquor bill. The catering staff should be tipped 15-20% of your total bill. Always hand this to the head bartender or waiter to allow equal division among the staff. If you choose to add a tip, you can pay in advance to management so that you do not have to worry about this at the close of the reception.

Wedding Coordinator – Like your photographer/videographer, if he/she owns their own company, then leaving a tip is completely optional. If he/she is an employee, such as a coordinator assigned to you by the venue, $50.00 to $100.00 is a recommended. Remember, if your coordinator put in a lot of hours for your larger, more extravagant wedding, the tip should be adjusted and dependent on the total wedding budget.

Lastly, there are a number of vendors that do not typically expect a tip: wedding stationer, bridal shop, seamstress for alterations, cake baker and florist. It if always up to you whether or not to tack on an additional amount for any vendor who has done an amazing job! These fees can add up and planning ahead will make sure there are no surprises!

Happy Planning!

Hi Kat,

Congrats on selecting the resort!! Tricky part is over We are currently planning a couple of weddings at the newly refurbished Riu Palace Mexico. No need to stress - just reach out to the hotel coordinator and they will be happy to provide you with the anwsers you are looking for You have lots of time! Photography is not included in the packages, but you can hire their photographer (who is actually very good!!) - there information can be found at www.adventureweddingsphoto.com. The wedding package includes minimal decor for your ceremony, they will be able to help you with further decor you wish to purchase for your ceremony and/or reception!

Happy Planning!!

The Wickaninnish Inn in Tofino BC offers one of the most breathtaking landscapes imaginable for wedding.

Windswept beaches, bleached driftwood, Vancouver Island forests, and the Pacific Ocean create a whimsical unique backdrop.

We are so excited about this property that we are offering the FIRST bride and groom to book their destination wedding at this hotel our LUXE Planning Package absolutely FREE! A $3000 value that will offer you the comfort and trust that your wedding will be as perfect as the setting. Contact us at contact@luxedestinationweddings.com and quote "BDW TOFINO" to be the first to receive this fantastic promotion.

Happy planning!!!

Matt Damon recently had a vow renewal and we LOVE how they decided to add in cute, quirky vows to their ceremony. One of his vows was that he would give his wife the side of the bed closer to the bathroom. Pretty cute right?! Did you or will you add anything this personalized into your wedding vows?

Happy Planning!

Totally normal Melissa14!! Try spreading out some of the items between your bridal party (isn't that what they are there for?!) to lower the number of additional bags you will have to bring. I'll share with you the packing list that we give to our clients as well so you can cross reference!

Happy Planning!

Carry-on items

• Wedding dress. Don't trust your dress to checked luggage. Most airplanes have coat closets and will allow travelers to hang garment bags. Call ahead, let them know you will be bringing a dress and ask if the airline will let you hang your dress in the closet
• Groom’s wedding outfit (tux, suit, shorts, etc.)
• All original and notarized documents--including air tickets, birth certificates, passports, hotel reservation confirmation, medical/trip insurance, etc.
• Two sets of photocopies of all of the above documents
• Your credit cards and ATM cards
• Phone numbers for your doctor, house/pet sitter and credit card companies (in case your cards are lost or stolen)
• Prescription medicine (in the original bottle)
• Wedding rings
• Wedding vows
• Your veil
• Bridal jewelry
• A change of clothes for the first day (just in case), including a bathing suit
• Copies of all contracts and vendor contact sheets

Checked items

Personal

• Special hosiery or undergarments
• Wedding night sleepwear
• A variety of shoes (flip flops, heels, running shoes/walking shoes, etc.)
• Tiara or headpiece
• Garter
• Sunglasses
• A good sun-protective hat
• Several bathing suits (remember a strapless bikini or suit if you don’t want unruly tan lines)
• A beach cover-up
• Planned outfits for special events like a welcome dinner, rehearsal dinner or farewell brunch
• A selection of mix and match day and nighttime outfits that make you look your best, yet are lightweight, comfortable and cool (skits, capris, shorts, tees, tank tops, etc.). Solid colors work well as do non-wrinkling fabrics
• A cardigan/jacket for night time
• Exercise clothes and running shoes
• A purse/evening bag
• A beach bag
• A daypack (for outings, trips)
• A Spanish/Creole phrasebook
• Good books and magazines for beach reading

Toiletries and Cosmetics

• Wedding make-up
• High-SPF waterproof sunscreen
• After-sun lotion or aloe vera gel
• Insect repellant
• Mini medical kit: pain killers, antacid tabs, anti-nausea pills, etc. It’s best to be prepared for anything
• Ample toiletries (don’t count on the resort having what you want): toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant (clear deodorant for the wedding day), cosmetics, makeup remover,
• cotton swabs, Q-tips, shampoo & conditioner, moisturizer, mouthwash, comb & brush, nail
• clippers, shaving cream, razors, hair dryer, tampons/pads, etc.
• Hair dryer/straightener
• Curling iron/curlers

Wedding Things

• Any special personal touches you’d like to add to the ceremony
• Gifts for wedding party/family members
• A journal or diary (so you don’t forget the experience)
• Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue
• A good camera (to capture the moments) and film (if you’re not digital)
• Welcome bags & contents including weekend itineraries
• CDs/music
• Cake topper
• Printed materials: menus, programs, seating cards, signage
• Table decorations (disposable cameras, candles, etc.)
• Guest book & pens
• Ceremony accessories (unity candle, Ketubah, ring-bearer pillow, etc.)
• Thank-you notes/gifts to vendors (including tip envelopes)
• Fix-it kit: Extras of all materials used to make favors, welcome bags, etc.
• Your wedding planning folder with all the details of your arrangements

Anytime!! It's a tricky subject and can be very subjective but happy to help!

Happy Planning!

AllieH is completely right - the on site wedding coordinators, especially as this time of the year, are not at their desks often, so response times are much slower! We deal with this on a daily basis and just advise our brides that this does happen and it does not mean that the on site team is not on top of things. They just have a lot of weddings and can't spend as much dedicated time on each individual bride as your own wedding planner can!

Happy Planning!

Originally Posted by SoonMrsD 

 

 

Yay! I'm excited and nervous all in one for this new Journey I'm about to embark on! 

 

 

 

I'm all in, I'm looking to plan a wedding in Punta Cana, DR but we haven't narrowed down our choices, there are so many places!!! We are looking into Sept/Oct 2014

 

Anyone with help would be greatly appreciated as well as advice.... Thank you in advance!

 

Also, I should mention I think I have a GROOMZILLA on my hands ha ha 

 

 

 

Best Wishes and Congratulations to Everyone on their engagements! 

 

SoonMrsD

Hi SoonMrsD!

Congratulations on your engagement!!! This is a very exciting time and planning a destination wedding can be a lot of fun for you and your fiance. I would suggest you look at the Dreams Punta Cana or Now Larimar. Both have fantastic Wedding Programs and we have planned countless weddings at these properties. Should you wish to discuss your wedding details further, please feel free to PM us your contact information and we would be happy to chat further about your big day!!!

Happy Planning!

Originally Posted by Jennypert 

 

We are going on vacation to Secrets Silversands in May 2013. We like the area and the resort. For our wedding next year, we will have at least 4 teenagers so an all-adult all-inclusive is not an option. I am considering Azul Beach, Azul Sensatori and Now Jade. Can anyone advise me on pros and cons for each?

Hi Jenny!

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! We have planned many weddings at all three properties, and I would highly recommend that you look at the Azul properties. They are fantastic for weddings, have great vendors and amenities really aimed at pleasing brides. We plan countless weddings here every year and the bride and groom always come home and tell us how perfect everything went!

If you have any further questions, we would be happy to discuss the resorts further with you - feel free to PM us your contact details!

Happy Planning!

Originally Posted by weddingdesire 

 

Hi all, I've been planning my wedding since last year, but my fiance and I cannot still decide the resort. We want to go to some place really cool. 

Hi!

What seems to have you and your fiancee stuck? Have you been able to narrow down the country? What we do with our clients is begin by narrowing down the location based on the following details:

Amount you are ok asking your guests to pay per person

Preferred Wedding Date

Preferred Countries or Cities

Specific Wedding Criteria Imperative to Wedding

From there, you are able to get a better handle on which locations are possible and which are instantly removed. Should you wish to speak further, or need some assistance on selecting the location, feel free to PM us your contact details and we would be happy to further discuss!

Happy Planning!

Originally Posted by violet0711 

 

Hi. I'm new to this site. I had my heart set on Turks and Caicos, but after finding how expensive it is and how much hotel cost and  my guests couldn't afford it I've decided to look into Playa De Carmen or the surrounding area. I'm not sure where to begin to find the ideal venue. I'm looking  preferably first weekend in March 2014, but I'm flexible. Anyone who have gotten married or attended a wedding during that time. How is the weather in March? I am looking anywhere from 20-50 guests. I am looking for a great venue with great views but I would need affordable accommodations for my guests. Any suggestions?

Hi Violet!

Welcome to the forum and congrats on your upcoming wedding! Choosing the resort is the hardest part - but there are many resources out there to help you with this I would recommend looking at the Riu Palace Riviera Maya, Azul Beach, Azul Sensatori and the Grand Sunset Princess as starting points! We would be happy to further assist if you would like to PM us your contact details to dicuss your wedding plans further!

March weather is beautiful - sunny, warm and not overly humid.

Happy Planning!